A Dupont man and his significant other are accused of stealing 71 items worth over $3,000 from the Nike outlet store in Centralia.
Centralia police arrested Chanan Bunchaidung, 34, on Tuesday and booked him into the Lewis County Jail. His partner, Brenda Christensen, 24, of Olympia, was referred to Lewis County Superior Court for charges but not booked into jail, according to police.
Bunchaidung made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Wednesday to face one count each of second-degree theft and second-degree organized retail theft, each punishable by up to five years in prison.
The court set Bunchaidung’s bail at $10,000 cash or bond, with conditions of release to include no contact with the Nike store. Bunchaidung is allowed to have contact with Christensen, but may not discuss the case.
According to court documents, Bunchaidung was serving community custody with the Department of Corrections at the time of his arrest.
He is scheduled for an arraignment on Feb. 19.
According to court documents, police pulled Bunchaidung and Christensen over on Interstate 5 after a detective observed an apparent shoplifting from the Nike store. The detective reportedly saw the suspects depart in a blue Chevrolet Malibu.
During the traffic stop, police allegedly observed “numerous black mesh Nike bags, filled with merchandise piled up in the back seat,” according to court documents.
A staff member from the Nike store confirmed the theft. Surveillance photos reportedly showed the suspects exiting with the bags.
Police recovered the bags and returned them to the store, along with clothing worn by Christensen that had also allegedly been stolen.
A Nike staff member provided police with a void receipt reportedly totaling $3,267.50.
